~ You are hereby cordially invited to attend the wedding of Jaina Solo and
Jagged Fel.
( ~
Chapter 17: With This Ring
Jaina flopped herself onto the bed in her temporary quarters on Hapes. Tenel Ka had learned of her and Jag's presence and insisted that they stay with her in the palace, not only so that she and Jaina could catch up and plan Jaina's wedding, but also for the increased security. There was no possible way for Zekk to get to Jaina now. Jaina lay on the bed, thinking about Jag. She was actually going to marry him in less than an hour. Oh gods! She needed to get ready!
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jag and Kyp stood in the suite adjacent to Jaina's room. Jag couldn't stand this. He was so close to Jaina, but he couldn't see her, couldn't touch her, and couldn't feel her lips against his. He fidgeted with the collar of his military uniform. Usually he didn't mind the formal dress, but something about the occasion was making him nervous. Kyp laughed.
"Not getting cold feet, are you Fel?"
Jag straightened, stiffly. "No, I just want this to be over already. I want to know that Jaina is mine and I want her to know that I am hers. I feel like I'm married to her already. I made that commitment a long time ago. The ceremony is just a formality."
Kyp looked at Jag, an expression of reverence on his face. "I can only wish that someday I have something close to what you and Jaina share."
Jag smiled and visibly relaxed. "You have no idea just how close we really are, Durron. You have no idea."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina sat in a chair in front of a mirror in her quarters, waiting patiently for Tenel Ka's assistant to finish her elaborate hairstyle. Random sections of her hair had been woven into tight, tiny braid and studded with rainbow gems. Then, half of her hair had been pulled away from her face, most of the braids had been included in this section, and her hair glittered with light and color. The hair that hadn't been pulled back was put into loose curls that framed her face. More rainbow gems had been set into the curls. Jaina looked at herself in the mirror. Never before had she seen herself as a woman of such elegance and beauty. Her mother and father had always told her that she was beautiful. Jacen had told her this too. Even Jag had told her countless times that she was stunning, but it wasn't until this moment that she believed any of them. For the first time in her life, Jaina wasn't Jaina the Goddess, or Jaina the Pilot, or even Jaina the Jedi. She was Jaina, the Woman.
"I take it then, my dear friend, that you are happy with Zora's work?"
Jaina turned to her friend, Tenel Ka, the Queen Mother of Hapes, and smiled. Tears were threatening to spill from Jaina's eyes.
"Thank you." She whispered. "Thank you."
* * * * * * * * * * *
As Jaina and Jag began their final preparations, the Millennium Falcon landed in the Royal hangar bay on Hapes. Jaina's family had gotten word about the impending nuptials and had immediately left for Hapes. As soon as the ship had landed, the entire Solo and Skywalker clans had bolted for the palace. They were not going to miss this wedding for the galaxy.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina slipped into her dress. Tenel Ka had gone with her to pick the dress out. It was a white sheath made of shimmersilk. The dress had a squared neckline that ended just under her shoulders, accenting her toned shoulder muscles. The back of the dress plunged far below the middle of her back, but she didn't mind. She hadn't picked out the dress so much for the wedding, but more for the honeymoon. Besides, she really didn't need to worry about the back of the dress, seeing as how she had a sheath to go over it. Tenel Ka helped her put on the simple veil. It was a very translucent white and it barely concealed her face. But that didn't matter either. She wanted Jag to be able to see just how overjoyed she was. As Tenel Ka finished helping Jaina with her preparations, the door to her quarters burst open. Jaina turned to the door and her jaw went slack.
"What are you doing here?"
* * * * * * * * * * *
In the void of space, the Kyria hung. Zekk was stuck in orbit around Hapes. He had arrived about five standard hours ago, but they docking officials wouldn't let him land. He knew why. Jaina had to have contacted them. That was the only reason. She didn't want him interfering with her wedding. He couldn't believe that Jaina really didn't want him. He shook his head. No, he thought, she does, but doesn't realize it. Only you have ever really loved her. Then he thought about the look on her face before she had run from him. He didn't know what she had seen in her vision, but he knew that it had scared her to death. Whatever she had seen, he knew that it wouldn't come true and that she would still love him. She had to. He flipped on the comm again and tried to hail Ground Control.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina stood in her quarters and stared at her family, who were standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" she repeated.
Her mother smiled. "Do you really think I was going to miss the wedding of my only daughter?"
Jaina and the rest of her family laughed. "No," she said, "but you had better hurry up and change because the ceremony is about to start."
Every inhabitant of the room, save Jaina and Tenel Ka, scrambled to get ready.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jag Fel and Kyp Durron stood at the front of the Grand Audience Chamber of the Hapes palace. Kyp was calm, thanks to the use of some Jedi technique. Jag, on the other hand, was sweating bullets.
Wish I knew how to use the Force right about now, he thought.
"Relax. Breathe. You're going to get through this."
Jag eyed Kyp nervously. "I know I am. And I know she is. But how are we going to tell our families that we went and got married without them here."
Kyp laughed, "Well, you needn't worry about that."
Jag's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why?"
"Because I took the liberty of getting messages out to your family and Jaina's family before we left. I figured that once the two of you were reunited, you'd want to get married right away. In fact, they should be getting here any minute now."
And as if they had been cued, the Solo, Skywalker, and Fel families burst through the door to the Grand Audience Chamber. They all took their seats and waited for the ceremony to begin.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina had never been more nervous or excited before in her entire life. She had felt something akin to this the first time she had flown a ship all by herself, but at a greater magnitude. Her father stood with her outside the door of the chamber where she and Jag were going to be married. Han took one final look at his little girl, who was about to take her final step into womanhood. He knew that she was happy. But he couldn't help feeling just a touch of sorrow. He was giving her away. She would never be just his again. And Anakin wasn't going to be here to see it.
Jaina looked at her father and saw the tears that were threatening to spill from his eyes.
"Just look at it this way, Dad, you're not losing me; you're gaining Jag."
"I know, princess. I know. You're not a little girl anymore."
Jaina smiled at her father. She knew it was killing him inside to be giving away his only daughter, but he was going to make sure that she was happy. He held out his arm and she accepted it.
"Shall we?" Father said to daughter.
"We shall."
* * * * * * * * * * *
The doors to the Chamber opened. Two figures stood in the light of the palace. The bridal procession started and father and daughter slowly made their way down the aisle. Jag couldn't believe how much happiness Jaina was radiating. He knew that the Force-user could feel it, but he could see it. It was amazing to see the light she emanated.
Jaina smiled at the sight of a breathless Jag. He was so handsome in his formal uniform. Sure, she had seen him in it before, but this time, it was different. The black seemed brighter somehow, if that were possible. Then, she realized why he looked different. The happiness he had seen shining from her was no comparison to the light of his love that shimmered off of him. Tears filled Jaina's eyes at this sight.
The couple stood at the front of the Grand Chamber, awaiting the Hapan holy man to begin the ceremony.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Kyria docked in a remote hangar bay, some twenty-odd miles away from the palace. Zekk ran through his post-flight checklist and jumped out of the ship. He needed to find a speeder if he was going to stop this wedding.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Who gives this woman to this man?" asked the holy man.
Jaina's parents and brother stood. "We do." They chorused in unison.
The holy man turned his attention back to Jaina and Jag. "Have you the rings?"
Kyp pulled two small ring boxes out of his robes and handed them to Jag. Jag accepted them and handed them to the holy man, who took them and blessed them. He then handed Jag's ring to Jaina, and Jaina's ring to Jag.
"Jaina, hold out your left hand." He paused as she did so. "Now, Jagged, repeat after me: I, Jagged Bastian Fel,"
"I, Jagged Bastian Fel,"
"Take you, Jaina Winter Solo,"
"Take you, Jaina Winter Solo,"
"To be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to honor and obey, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part."
Jag repeated these words, meaning every single word from the bottom of his heart. His gaze never wavered from Jaina's even when he slid the ring on her finger. He had picked out a simple silver band and had it set with an unobtrusive Corusca gem. On the inside of the band, he had the words "J & J" engraved. He didn't need words like "forever" or "eternally" on the inside. He already knew that their bond went far deeper than that.
Jaina repeated the words of the holy man, just as Jag had done, and meant every single word from the bottom of her very soul. She slipped the silver band, which had also been engraved with "J & J", onto Jag's finger.
"Have you anything that you would like to say to one another?"
Jaina looked deep into Jag's eyes. I love you so much, she thought.
I know. I love you too, he replied.
They both looked back at the holy man, smiling.
"Then, by the power vested in me by Queen Mother Tenel Ka Ta'Djo and the Hapes Consortium, I now pronounce you man and wife. May the Force be with you."
Jain and Jag turned to face each other. They were so lost in one another's eyes that they barely heard the words, "You may now kiss the bride" but, they had heard it and they willingly obliged his command. Their lips met for the first time as a married couple in a sweet, loving kiss. They both opened to each other and deepened the kiss, savoring their moment.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Zekk jumped off the landspeeder and raced into the palace. He ran straight for the Grand Audience Chamber in hopes that he could catch Tenel Ka. Maybe she would tell him where he could find Jaina.
As he pushed the doors open he heard the words, "You may now kiss the bride." He opened the doors further to reveal an exquisite looking Jaina kissing her Imperial boyfriend, who was now her husband.
Zekk sunk to his knees in the doorway of the Chamber, crying.
I really have lost her, he thought.
Chapter 17: With This Ring
Jaina flopped herself onto the bed in her temporary quarters on Hapes. Tenel Ka had learned of her and Jag's presence and insisted that they stay with her in the palace, not only so that she and Jaina could catch up and plan Jaina's wedding, but also for the increased security. There was no possible way for Zekk to get to Jaina now. Jaina lay on the bed, thinking about Jag. She was actually going to marry him in less than an hour. Oh gods! She needed to get ready!
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jag and Kyp stood in the suite adjacent to Jaina's room. Jag couldn't stand this. He was so close to Jaina, but he couldn't see her, couldn't touch her, and couldn't feel her lips against his. He fidgeted with the collar of his military uniform. Usually he didn't mind the formal dress, but something about the occasion was making him nervous. Kyp laughed.
"Not getting cold feet, are you Fel?"
Jag straightened, stiffly. "No, I just want this to be over already. I want to know that Jaina is mine and I want her to know that I am hers. I feel like I'm married to her already. I made that commitment a long time ago. The ceremony is just a formality."
Kyp looked at Jag, an expression of reverence on his face. "I can only wish that someday I have something close to what you and Jaina share."
Jag smiled and visibly relaxed. "You have no idea just how close we really are, Durron. You have no idea."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina sat in a chair in front of a mirror in her quarters, waiting patiently for Tenel Ka's assistant to finish her elaborate hairstyle. Random sections of her hair had been woven into tight, tiny braid and studded with rainbow gems. Then, half of her hair had been pulled away from her face, most of the braids had been included in this section, and her hair glittered with light and color. The hair that hadn't been pulled back was put into loose curls that framed her face. More rainbow gems had been set into the curls. Jaina looked at herself in the mirror. Never before had she seen herself as a woman of such elegance and beauty. Her mother and father had always told her that she was beautiful. Jacen had told her this too. Even Jag had told her countless times that she was stunning, but it wasn't until this moment that she believed any of them. For the first time in her life, Jaina wasn't Jaina the Goddess, or Jaina the Pilot, or even Jaina the Jedi. She was Jaina, the Woman.
"I take it then, my dear friend, that you are happy with Zora's work?"
Jaina turned to her friend, Tenel Ka, the Queen Mother of Hapes, and smiled. Tears were threatening to spill from Jaina's eyes.
"Thank you." She whispered. "Thank you."
* * * * * * * * * * *
As Jaina and Jag began their final preparations, the Millennium Falcon landed in the Royal hangar bay on Hapes. Jaina's family had gotten word about the impending nuptials and had immediately left for Hapes. As soon as the ship had landed, the entire Solo and Skywalker clans had bolted for the palace. They were not going to miss this wedding for the galaxy.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina slipped into her dress. Tenel Ka had gone with her to pick the dress out. It was a white sheath made of shimmersilk. The dress had a squared neckline that ended just under her shoulders, accenting her toned shoulder muscles. The back of the dress plunged far below the middle of her back, but she didn't mind. She hadn't picked out the dress so much for the wedding, but more for the honeymoon. Besides, she really didn't need to worry about the back of the dress, seeing as how she had a sheath to go over it. Tenel Ka helped her put on the simple veil. It was a very translucent white and it barely concealed her face. But that didn't matter either. She wanted Jag to be able to see just how overjoyed she was. As Tenel Ka finished helping Jaina with her preparations, the door to her quarters burst open. Jaina turned to the door and her jaw went slack.
"What are you doing here?"
* * * * * * * * * * *
In the void of space, the Kyria hung. Zekk was stuck in orbit around Hapes. He had arrived about five standard hours ago, but they docking officials wouldn't let him land. He knew why. Jaina had to have contacted them. That was the only reason. She didn't want him interfering with her wedding. He couldn't believe that Jaina really didn't want him. He shook his head. No, he thought, she does, but doesn't realize it. Only you have ever really loved her. Then he thought about the look on her face before she had run from him. He didn't know what she had seen in her vision, but he knew that it had scared her to death. Whatever she had seen, he knew that it wouldn't come true and that she would still love him. She had to. He flipped on the comm again and tried to hail Ground Control.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina stood in her quarters and stared at her family, who were standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" she repeated.
Her mother smiled. "Do you really think I was going to miss the wedding of my only daughter?"
Jaina and the rest of her family laughed. "No," she said, "but you had better hurry up and change because the ceremony is about to start."
Every inhabitant of the room, save Jaina and Tenel Ka, scrambled to get ready.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jag Fel and Kyp Durron stood at the front of the Grand Audience Chamber of the Hapes palace. Kyp was calm, thanks to the use of some Jedi technique. Jag, on the other hand, was sweating bullets.
Wish I knew how to use the Force right about now, he thought.
"Relax. Breathe. You're going to get through this."
Jag eyed Kyp nervously. "I know I am. And I know she is. But how are we going to tell our families that we went and got married without them here."
Kyp laughed, "Well, you needn't worry about that."
Jag's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why?"
"Because I took the liberty of getting messages out to your family and Jaina's family before we left. I figured that once the two of you were reunited, you'd want to get married right away. In fact, they should be getting here any minute now."
And as if they had been cued, the Solo, Skywalker, and Fel families burst through the door to the Grand Audience Chamber. They all took their seats and waited for the ceremony to begin.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina had never been more nervous or excited before in her entire life. She had felt something akin to this the first time she had flown a ship all by herself, but at a greater magnitude. Her father stood with her outside the door of the chamber where she and Jag were going to be married. Han took one final look at his little girl, who was about to take her final step into womanhood. He knew that she was happy. But he couldn't help feeling just a touch of sorrow. He was giving her away. She would never be just his again. And Anakin wasn't going to be here to see it.
Jaina looked at her father and saw the tears that were threatening to spill from his eyes.
"Just look at it this way, Dad, you're not losing me; you're gaining Jag."
"I know, princess. I know. You're not a little girl anymore."
Jaina smiled at her father. She knew it was killing him inside to be giving away his only daughter, but he was going to make sure that she was happy. He held out his arm and she accepted it.
"Shall we?" Father said to daughter.
"We shall."
* * * * * * * * * * *
The doors to the Chamber opened. Two figures stood in the light of the palace. The bridal procession started and father and daughter slowly made their way down the aisle. Jag couldn't believe how much happiness Jaina was radiating. He knew that the Force-user could feel it, but he could see it. It was amazing to see the light she emanated.
Jaina smiled at the sight of a breathless Jag. He was so handsome in his formal uniform. Sure, she had seen him in it before, but this time, it was different. The black seemed brighter somehow, if that were possible. Then, she realized why he looked different. The happiness he had seen shining from her was no comparison to the light of his love that shimmered off of him. Tears filled Jaina's eyes at this sight.
The couple stood at the front of the Grand Chamber, awaiting the Hapan holy man to begin the ceremony.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Kyria docked in a remote hangar bay, some twenty-odd miles away from the palace. Zekk ran through his post-flight checklist and jumped out of the ship. He needed to find a speeder if he was going to stop this wedding.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Who gives this woman to this man?" asked the holy man.
Jaina's parents and brother stood. "We do." They chorused in unison.
The holy man turned his attention back to Jaina and Jag. "Have you the rings?"
Kyp pulled two small ring boxes out of his robes and handed them to Jag. Jag accepted them and handed them to the holy man, who took them and blessed them. He then handed Jag's ring to Jaina, and Jaina's ring to Jag.
"Jaina, hold out your left hand." He paused as she did so. "Now, Jagged, repeat after me: I, Jagged Bastian Fel,"
"I, Jagged Bastian Fel,"
"Take you, Jaina Winter Solo,"
"Take you, Jaina Winter Solo,"
"To be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to honor and obey, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part."
Jag repeated these words, meaning every single word from the bottom of his heart. His gaze never wavered from Jaina's even when he slid the ring on her finger. He had picked out a simple silver band and had it set with an unobtrusive Corusca gem. On the inside of the band, he had the words "J & J" engraved. He didn't need words like "forever" or "eternally" on the inside. He already knew that their bond went far deeper than that.
Jaina repeated the words of the holy man, just as Jag had done, and meant every single word from the bottom of her very soul. She slipped the silver band, which had also been engraved with "J & J", onto Jag's finger.
"Have you anything that you would like to say to one another?"
Jaina looked deep into Jag's eyes. I love you so much, she thought.
I know. I love you too, he replied.
They both looked back at the holy man, smiling.
"Then, by the power vested in me by Queen Mother Tenel Ka Ta'Djo and the Hapes Consortium, I now pronounce you man and wife. May the Force be with you."
Jain and Jag turned to face each other. They were so lost in one another's eyes that they barely heard the words, "You may now kiss the bride" but, they had heard it and they willingly obliged his command. Their lips met for the first time as a married couple in a sweet, loving kiss. They both opened to each other and deepened the kiss, savoring their moment.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Zekk jumped off the landspeeder and raced into the palace. He ran straight for the Grand Audience Chamber in hopes that he could catch Tenel Ka. Maybe she would tell him where he could find Jaina.
As he pushed the doors open he heard the words, "You may now kiss the bride." He opened the doors further to reveal an exquisite looking Jaina kissing her Imperial boyfriend, who was now her husband.
Zekk sunk to his knees in the doorway of the Chamber, crying.
I really have lost her, he thought.
